Mumia Abu-Jamal’s supporters and opponents weigh in on Supreme Court decision

The U.S. Supreme Court may have upheld the conviction of Mumia Abu Jamal in the 1981 murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. But outside the courtroom, the battle continues between the opposing sides in the case.

The U.S. Supreme Court may have upheld the conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal in the 1981 murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. But outside the courtroom, the battle continues between the opposing sides in the case.

Listen:
[audio: reports20090408mumia.mp3]

Pam Africa is a leader of the supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal. She says the Supreme Court’s decision not to review the case, which upheld the conviction, is an illegal action

Africa: The only reason why they refuse to review it is because number one when you go into a review you see all the inconsistencies of what happened in the case and you see the frame-up.

Supporters of the Faulkner family see things differently. Nationally-syndicated radio host Michael Smerconish wrote a book on the case and has no doubts Abu-Jamal is guilty.

Smerconish: The Faulkner family has already been victimized twice: first by Mumia Abu Jamal, and secondly by a judicial system that has failed to bring this case to closure.

The Supreme Court still has to decide whether to take up a Third Circuit decision that tossed out the death penalty for Abu-Jamal.